Washing machines for dishes, tableware and the like, and fluid valve controls therefor



P 3, 1965 R. HOLLINGSWORTH 3,177,880

WASHING MACHINES FOR DISHES, TABLEWARE AND THE LIKE, AND FLUID VALVE CONTROLS THEREFOR Filed July 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG./

Apnl 13, 1965 R. HOLLINGSWORTH 3,177,889

. WASHING MACHINES FOR DISHES, TABLEWARE AND THE LIKE, AND

V FLUID VALVE CONTROLS THEREFOR Filed July 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,177,880 WASHING MAC FDR DISIES, TABLEWARE AND Tim LIKE, AND FLUID VALVE CGNTROLS THEREFGR R. Lee Holliugsworth, 266 Maple Place, Miueola, N.Y. Filed July 19, 1963, Ser. No. 296,324 6 Claims. (Cl. 134-68) The present invention relates to automatic electric dishwashers which have no moving parts within the area where the dishes, tableware, knives and forks are placed for washing and rinsing.

In existing types of dishwaslu'ng machines, washing and rinsing areaccomplished by remote sprays, or sprays from a rotating spraying mechanism that do not necessarily provide direct impingement upon or into the utensils to be washed and rinsed.

The present invention comprises a circulating water system operated by pump means which produces pressure thus forcing suds or rinse water through the piping and protrusions of various shapes, compartments and configurations, thus providing spray areas in which the surfaces of the utensils are continuously sprayed so that the wash cycle and the rainse cycle are considerably shortened, yet thorough cleaning andrinsing are assured.

Associated with the present invention, and for other uses where manual and electric valves are used for the control of any fluid, be it water,0il, mercury or any fluid that is diflicult to control, including gases of all kinds and descriptions, is a new and novel control valve. Among the uses to which such a valve might be put in addition to that associated with the present invention include air purifiers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, gas-scrubbing apparata, as well as apparata for purifying and/or recovering values from gases.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View, partly in-section, of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a removable frame compartment for holding knives, forks, spoons and other utensils.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a novel valve and closure according to the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a side view, partly in section of a modified valve operated electromagnetically.

FIGURE 5 is a side section of a preferred embodiment of the valve and valve control means.

FIGURE 6 is a side section of a modified embodiment of the valve of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detail of a portion of FIG- URE 6 at an angle of 90.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a further modified valve.

Referring to FIGURE 1 numeral 10 indicates the casing or tank which encloses the dishwasher. This casing has an inclined floor 11 which causes. all sediment to move in the direction of the exhaust suction nozzle 12. The Washing or rinsing water having the least sediment passes through filtering means 13, as, for example, a fine mesh screen, and is sucked into strainer inlet 16, through pipe 15 and back into pump 14. Plastic line 17, which is preferably injection molded to contain protrusions 18, has one end connected to the pump14 at 19 and the other to flow path divider means 29. Line 21 having compartments 23 formed by protrusions 24 and the opposite side walls of casing 10 connects flow path divider means and flow path divider means 22. Flexible tube coil 25 having a plurality of convolutions 26, which may have a support member 27 below it, is also connected to both flow path divider means 20 and 22. Pipe connection 29 connects flow path divider means 22 and pump 14. When the pump is running, heavy spray is ejected through each of the fine holes 28 to accomplish the purpose of washing dishes or other utensils or tools' on which the spray or other small columns of water un- 'der pressure, strike or impinge upon. Cups and bowls are fitted over protrusions 18. Dishes are inserted between the convolutions 26 of flexible tube coil 25 and are held in place by the helical spring elfect of the tube coil. Additional support for the dishes may be provided a ments 23 have small openings 28 in the walls thereof to provide water columns which directly impinge upon the utensils to be washed and rinsed. Drains 30 provide an egress for the fluid. FIGURE 2 shows in detail one of the frame compartments 65. This comprises an upper frame member 66 and a lower frame member 67 joined by vertical rib members 68. Horizontal rib member 69 joins all four vertical rib members 68 preferably about the mid point thereof so that utensils, tools and other items placed within the frame will not fall out between the upper and lower frame members. Floor 70 is provided with a drain 30' which corresponds to drain 30 in each of the formed compartments 23. Numeral 71 indicates a carrying handle or bail.

Telemetering means, or switching means is provided automatically by clock timed switching means 31, which is set in motion by adjusting knob 32, Electric lines 33 supply electricity to the machine. Electric conductors 34 and 35, which may be multiple conductors, connect the timed switching means 31 to the pump and control means 14. Line 36 connects the time switching means 31 to the solenoid controlled valve 37 which automatically causes the pipes and protrusions to be gradually filled from'hot water line 42 during the washing or rinsing cycle, thus producing a spray eifect for a time period determined by the timed switching means 31 which controls this and all other similar operations in well known manner. The

timer directs the sequence of operations in the proper, steps until the wash and rinse cycles are completed. Lid

38 lifts and is hinged at 39. This lid has a shaped front and sides such that when it is closed, the water spray hitting the lid drains back into the tank without spilling outside.

the correct temperature and such heater may be used and controlled by timed switching means 31.

It is to be appreciated that there are many flexible and ing pressure that would cause holes 28 to clear themselves of any sediment that might tend to plug some of them.

At the beginning of the rinse cycle, the pump auto- I matically draws everything including water and residue into pipe 43 via opening 12 up'to pump 14, and after the rinse cycle everything'is pumped out vialine 44 into,- for example, sewer inlet 45.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a new and novel valve, or

Patented Apr. 13, 1965 Detergent or soap dispenser 40 dispenses the correct amount of detergent into the'tank by a turn of knob 41, in well known fashion. An electric heater (not shown) may be suitably connected to heat the Water to valving means, such as shown at 37 (FIGURE 1) or the valves (not shown) in valve control means 14. A pipe 46 is closed at its end by flat member 47 having a large number of holes 48 passing therethrough. These holes may be drilled, cast or molded so that the closed end of the pipe would provide a sprinkler effect if fluid were pumped through. Since the fiat member is permanently afl-ixed to the end of the pipe as by welding, molding, etc., the holes 48 provide the only means of passage out of the pipe for liquids and gases. Flat gasket closing wafer 49 is made of a suitable flat material which is preferably flexible and slightly compressible, so that when it is pressed against the holes 48 any liquid or gas pressure flow through the holes is prevented- There are no sharp edges or surfaces to wear or cut into closing wafer 49; therefore, when this unit is made of a goodgrade of rubber or certain compressible plastics it should have V a very long life.

FIGURE 4 illustrates pipe 46', shown in cutaway form and having holes 48'. It is valved when wafer 49 which is supported by holder member 50 attached to solenoid means, 51'is moved to block holes 48. Magnet 52 is indicative of magnetic means such as would cause wafer 49' to move and cover holes 48 with sufiicient pressure to completely close them, when electricity is supplied to the solenoid.

FIGURE illustrates another embodiment of the valve in assembled form with a valve body. Pipes 53 and 54 threaded at t are attached to valve body 55 provided with threaded apertures therefor; ment may be made by welding or other known means. Valve stem 56 is threaded substantially full length. The stem is inserted through the internally and externally threaded insert 57. A holder 50 on which water 49 is permanently attached is attached to the end of the stem which is within the valve body. The wafer 49.may be floating or free to move within a limited area. When the stem is turned through the threads of insert 57, thewafer 49'moves closer to holes 48 until it has sealed said holes under the pressure applied by the end of the valve stem. Locking water guard nut 58 is threaded on valve stem 56. The handle or knob that turns valve. stem 56 is indicated at 59. The valve shown by .FIGURE 5 is commonly known as an elbow valve.

The valve illustrated in FIGURE dis a line valve wherein the pipe feeds into the valve body and continues in aistraight line. The valve body is indicated at.55. In this valve, pipe 61 is shaped at one portion 60 to accommodate a wrench, such that the pipe may be screwed and unscrewed through the casing of the valve body 55'. The end of the feed end of the pipe is cut-away or formed into an L-shape down to substantially the center thereof, and the full L area is capped; holes 48 are shown to be at right angles to the length of the pipe (FIGURE 7) so that the wafer 49 moved by threaded valve stem 56 covers and blocks the passage of fluid through holes 48. The arrow 64 (FIGURE 7) provides a guide for threading the wrench receiving pipe portion 60 into the valve wall so that the holes 48 will meet the flat surface of wafer 49. The valve shown in FIGURE 6 is disassembled by backing out the valve stem fully, unscrewing pipe 61, unscrewing wafer holder 50 from the valve stem, the removal of pipe 61." Valve stem 56 could pass wafer holder 50 then dropping out of the hole left by through a removable insert 57 (FIGURE 5) which would in effect reduce the total area size of the valve or it could be directly removed from the valve body.'

FIGURE 8 shows the pipe 46" with holes 48 placed directly through the pipe wall. Member 47" blocks the end of pipe 46" while wafer 49 is shaped to fit substantially the curvature of the pipe. In this embodiment of the invention curved wafer 49" may also close the holes by a variable band partially or wholly encircling the pipe, such band being adjustable.

It is to be understood that all of the known tech- If preferred, the attachniques of opening and closing valves by servo-motor, main spring action, electromagnetic and magnetic actions, are applicable to the task of opening and closing the valves according to the present invention, namely, the act of closing or blocking by any manner of applied pressure the passage of a fluid through the holes, the total.

passage area of the valve being the sum of the areas total number of holes.

It is also to be understood that modifications of the foregoing may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the instant invention.

7 .What is claimed is: 1. A machine for washing dishes, tableware and the like which comprises a casing, a hinged lid at the top of said casing, an angular floor within said casing the degree of the angle being such that sediment flows downward, a fluid inlet pipe extending through and into said casing, a valve connected to said inlet pipe within said casing, timed switching means located at the top of said casing and operably connected to and controlling said valve, a pump and valve control means located within said casing and towhich said timed switching means is also connected, a first flow pipe one end of which is connected to said pump and valve control means and having perforated protrusions of at least two shapes and sizes,'a

first flow path divider means the upper portion of which receives the other end-of said first flow pipe, a multi-turn, perforated, flexible tube coil, one end of which is connected to the side portion of said first flow path divider, a second fiow pipe connectedto the bottom portion of said flow path divider, a plurality of perforated compartments formed in and by said second flow pipe and the surrounding casing walls, a second flow path divider the bottom-portion of which receives the other end of said second flow pipe and the top portion of which receives the other end of said tube coil, a connector pipe one end of which is connected to the top portion of said second divider and the other end of which is connected to said connected to said pump and valve means, a fluid recircu lation means located behind said screen one end of which extends close to said angular floor and the other end of which is connected to said pump and valve means, and

an outlet pipe extending from said pump and valve means through said casing.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said valve connected to said inlet pipe comprises a-valve body, a pipe vertically inserted in said valve body, a cylindrical member closed at one end by a perforated flat member and inserted in one end of said valve body perpendicular to said pipe, avalve stem insert member inserted in the opposite end of said valve body, a valve stem rotatably inserted into and through said stem member and having a knob on the end-outside the valve body, a guard member attached to said stem member between said knob and said stern insert member, a wafer holder member attached to the end of said stem within said valve body and a cylinder closing wafer attached to said wafer holder member.

3. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said valve connected to said inlet pipe comprises a valve body, apipe vertically inserted in the tip of said valve body,'a cylindrical member one end of which is L-shaped and the vertical portion of the L having a flat perforated face and a circular outer surface vertically inserted at the bottom of said valve body, a valve stem rotatably inserted in said valve body perpendicular to said pipe and said cylindrical member and havinga knob attached at the end of outside said valve body, a wafer holder member attached to the end of said stem within said valve body and a closing wafer attached to said wafer holder sized to cover the connected to said inlet pipe comprises a valve body, an outlet pipe inserted in said body, an inlet pipe inserted in said body one portion of which is perforated, a valve stem rotatably inserted in said body and having a knob on the end outside said body, a wafer holder member attached to the end of said stem within said 'body and a closing wafer member attached to said wafer holder of a size at least equal to the perforated area of said inlet pipe.

5. A machine for washing dishes, tableware and the like, which com-prises a casing, an inner floor angularly positioned with respect to the bottom of said casing, to cause sediment to flow downward, branched flexible piping in said casing, a plurality of the branches of which are provided with perforated protrusions, and at least a portion of which is a multi-turn coil, at least one flowpath divider means integrally connected to said branched piping, pumping means for forcing fluid through said piping and causing a fluid spray to emit from said perforations under pressure, valve means integral with said pumping means, timed switching means integrally connected to and controlling said valve and pumping means in cyclic fashion, fluid inlet pipe connected to said pumping means and extending through said casing, a fluid outlet pipe connected to said pumping means for cyclically and automatically controlling fluid flow into, through and out of said casing, filtering means perpendicularly located with respect to said floor, exhaust means located in front of said filtering means one end of which is connected to said pump and valve means and a fluid recirculation means located behind said filtering means.

6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein one portion of said branched piping has perforated protrusions arranged to form compartments in conjunction with the surrounding casing walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTT ED STATES PATENTS 499,896 6/93 Stewart 251-264 X 853,693 5/07 Healey 137-599 X 873,476 12/07 Woods 251- X 893,527 7/08 Lawler 137-599 X 1,072,299 9/13 Bedal. 1,567,692 12/25 Alexander 251-175 X 1,596,854 8/26 Okrainetz 134-199 2,489,166 11/49 Timm et a1. 134-199 X 2,570,021 10/51 Beach 134-111 X 2,627,280 2/53 Adelson 137-599 X 2,734,520 2/56 Abresch et al 134-58 X 2,963,029 12/60 Bock 134-58 2,979,079 4/61 Turak 137-599 3,034,519 5/62 Jacobs 134-58 X 3,050,073 8/6-2 McMillan 134-137 3,064,664 '11/ 62 Warhus 134-58 X 3,063,459 11/62 Jacobs 134-58 3,075,550 '1/63 Keith 137-599 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,119,112 6/56 France.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

5. A MACHINE FOR WASHING DISHES, TABLEWAVE AND THE LIKE, WHICH COMPRISES A CASING, AN INNER FLOOR ANGULARLY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID CASING, TO CAUSE SEDIMENT TO FLOW DOWNWARD, BRANCHED FLEXIBLE PIPING IN SAID CASING, A PLURALITY OF THE BRANCHES OF WHICH ARE PROVIDED WITH PERFORATED PROTRUSIONS, AND AT LEAST A PORTION OF WHICH IS A MULTI-TURN COIL, AT LEAST ONE FLOWPATH DIVIDER MEANS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BRANCHED PIPING, PUMPING MEANS FOR FORCING FLUID THROUGH SAID PIPING AND CAUSING A FLUID SPRAY TO EMIT FROM SAID PERFORATIONS UNDER PRESSURE, VALVE MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID PUMPING MEANS, TIMED SWITCHING MEANS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO 